Missy Elliott Set to Receive the Honorary Vanguard Award at MTV VMAs

Missy Elliott at The Yellow Ball in September 2018
Missy Elliott at The Yellow Ball in September 2018. Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Variety/REX/Shutterstock (9878528co)

MTV Video Music Awards are only two weeks away, and we finally know who’s going to receive the prestigious Vanguard Award. Missy Elliott has been announced as the winner of this honorary award.

Bruce Gillmer, head of music and music talent for Viacom, broke the news in an official statement and explained why they decided to bestow the iconic rapper with this award.

“Missy’s impact on the music landscape is indelible. Her creative vision across production, performance, and songwriting is unmatched,” said Gillmer, and added they’ll celebrate her legacy with a series of celebrity and fan videos, and a pop-up museum.

The honorary Vanguard Award has been around since the inaugural VMAs in 1984. Missy Elliott will be in a pretty good company when she picks up her trophy since the list of the most recent recipients includes Jennifer Lopez, Pink, and Rihanna.

This year’s MTV VMAs will be aired live from the Prudential Center in Newark on August 26th, with Sebastian Maniscalco taking on the hosting duties. The list of nominees was topped by Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, who received 10 nods each.